Are You Engaged?

Only 32% of employees are engaged, and what the heck can we do about it?

A recent Gallup poll showed only 32% of employees are actively engaged at work. It turns out that 50.8% were “not engaged,” and still 17.2% more were “actively disengaged.” WTF people, right?! That means we’re spending 1/3 of our waking lives, if not more, unhappy. And I’m sure the happiness scales probably show even less satisfaction once we’re outside of work. Too many people are getting sucked into their phones, their addictions, their sports, and the thousand other ways to check out of life. Life is way too miraculous to check out.

It’s time to check back in folks. Life is too short and I’d hate to see you wake up someday and think, oh crap! Where did my life go? Don’t let it happen to you as it’s happened, and will continue to happen, to so many others.

Here are a few tips on not just staying engaged at work, but living a kick ass life and being excited about every moment (or at least as many moments as possible)!

Savor Each Moment

This seems to be so difficult for people, but the moment truly is a gift. The next time you’re in traffic or in line at your coffee shop, just stop and take a breath. Imagine how many trillions of moments had to come together to get you where you are today. It’s mind boggling and awe-inspiring. Let that sense of awe seep throughout your being for a while and live in a sense of awe for each moment!

Stay Connected

Regardless of what you may think, as humans, we need to stay connected to each other. The disconnection of people and isolation of individuals is the precise reason for increased addiction. A study in Finland showed that heroin addicts stopped overdosing after getting jobs, having mentors, and receiving love. Science also shows that there is nothing more directly related to our happiness as our relationships. Check out the Grant and Glueck study. It’s one of the longest studies about happiness, crossing many generations, and is very clear that staying connected with our loved ones is key to our happiness.

Focus on your Strengths

I know the obstacle is the way these days, but sometimes we can get caught up in what’s wrong with us and forget what is incredibly awesome! If you look at people who are at the top of their industry, like athletes, musicians, artists, and even business people, they definitely work on their weaknesses, but they flaunt their strengths. Find yours, use them to help build your confidence, and get out their and conquer! Gallup Strengths Center has helped over 18 million people improve their lives and become more engaged by pointing out their strengths and working to improve them.

Be Grateful

Gratitude is the best medicine for boredom and most any other psychological or emotional issue. It’s the cure for what ails you. I know we can get caught up on our high horse at times, or self righteous and entitled. I’m sure you’ve seen the person who is so upset because they feel like the world owes them something. We can all get that way sometimes, but when you begin to adopt an attitude of gratitude, things begin to shift.

The young man in the photo above is Leonce, he decided to jump off the rock on our hike because he wanted to fly. He’s from Tanzania and currently goes to private school in Hawaii. While there are many cultural differences, he has a deep sense of gratitude for all the experiences he’s having. And this is not just because he was given a gift, it’s because that is how he was raised, to be grateful for everything.

When you stop for a moment and realize that those trillion cells and even more trillions of moments have come together to present you with this moment, give it the respect it deserves and you will find not only more happiness, but a deeper sense of joy and engagement in your life, work, and relationships. Then you become that beacon of light that gallivants through life having a positive effect on others and changing the world. If you’re having trouble finding your way, please reach out for help, I’m always here.

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Success! One more step to get started with your meditation transformation! Check your email to confirm your subscription and the videos will begin immediately! Thank you so much for giving meditation a shot. I've had so many profound experiences and I hope you find the same to be true. I'm always here to help, so feel free to send me a note. Peace, Ted.

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Ted McDonald is a yoga teacher, fitness trainer, endurance athlete, entrepreneur, avid traveler and philanthropist. A former Elite Adventure Racer and a Lacrosse player at UCLA, he has been an athlete his entire life. He began teaching yoga and meditation over a decade ago and continues to compete in marathons and triathlons. Educated in both Iyengar and Ashtanga styles of yoga, he focuses his yoga sessions on strength, alignment and the breath, in order to help students increase their flexibility, strength and focus. He teaches many forms of meditation and a yin or restorative yoga class specifically designed to lengthen connective tissue, prevent injuries and open energetic pathways in the body. He is the founder of Adventure Yoga Retreats, a company that organizes premium travel adventures that enrich lives and inspire people to perform at their highest level. His versatility and knowledge allows him to successfully tailor his teaching and retreats to a diverse audience, including athletes, business professionals, yoga teachers, as well as beginning students. He owns 5 Point Yoga, two premiere yoga and fitness studios in Malibu, California. Ted co-created and is featured in Tony Horton’s p90x:2 yoga sequence as well as Tony’s yoga “expert” for his one-on-one video series. He is a long time lululemon ambassador and is the designated yoga teacher for the Tour de France winning professional cycling BMC Racing Team. And most recently Ted’s Yoga bootcamp video series for ExerciseTV was released with great success.

Start here...

Enter your email and you'll automatically receive the meditation videos. Thank you for being here. We'll keep you up to date with our latest adventures, knowledge, and cool stuff to help us all transform our lives!

Success! One more step to get started with your meditation transformation! Check your email to confirm your subscription and the videos will begin immediately! Thank you so much for giving meditation a shot. I've had so many profound experiences and I hope you find the same to be true. I'm always here to help, so feel free to send me a note. Peace, Ted.

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